A Winter Salad

Posted on January 19, 2012 | 3 comments

I apologize for taking so long between posts. I was incredibly busy with parties and family events over the holidays, and the beginning of the new year has been a time for catching up on paperwork, my marathon training (I’ll tell you more about that later), and projects around the house.

But now that I’ve got a snow day–if you don’t live in Seattle, you probably can’t imagine what it’s like here whenever a few flakes fall–I’m catching up with some recipes and blog posts.

Here’s a salad that I prepared for one of my December parties Continue reading →

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Posted in Fruit, Recipes, Salads, Vegetables

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A New Day

Posted on January 7, 2012 | Leave a comment

Early January is often a time for new year’s resolutions–promises to lose weight, exercise more and eat healthier.

But ever since losing my best friend to a mountaineering accident when we were just 25, I have tried to live life to the fullest every day because she cannot. She was my running partner, a fellow food lover, a rower and so much more.

On December 30, my friend Dana called me to share some sad news: Christina Choi, the owner/chef of the late Eastlake restaurant Nettletown and the co-founder of Foraged and Found Edibles died December 28 at the age of 34. She had been diagnosed with a brain aneurysm just two weeks earlier. Although I did not know Christina–nor did I get chance to dine at Nettletown before it closed in August–I know she had a tremendous impact on Seattle as well as the Northwest food community.

Such a tragic loss is one more reminder that life is precious, and we should live it fully every day.

Here’s a story about Christina that ran in the Seattle Times and here’s a link to the blog, Honey from a Weed, that her family kept during her surgery and hospital stay.

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New Year’s Brunch Strata

Posted on December 31, 2011 | 1 comment

Last winter, when I had invited several friends over for brunch, I wanted to serve something that could be prepared ahead so I would have as much time as possible to spend with my guests. A strata–a layered, bread pudding-like dish made with bread and eggs–seemed like the perfect solution.

If you’ve got guests coming over for New Year’s Day–or just want to be able to enjoy as much time as possible with your family–I recommend making this dish. Continue reading →

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Posted in Breakfast, Recipes

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Ring in the New Year

Posted on December 29, 2011 | Leave a comment

Our house in Seattle sits on a hill that overlooks downtown, so we often have friends over on New Year’s Eve to watch the fireworks that are set off at midnight from the top of the Space Needle.

Here’s an appetizer I plan to serve to my guests. It’s a relatively easy recipe to follow, so you can make it for your party guests too—or take with you if you are invited to a friend’s house for the celebration. Continue reading →

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Posted in Appetizers, Recipes, Vegetables

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‘Tis the Season

Posted on December 21, 2011 | 1 comment

I’ve been busy catering parties for the past couple of weeks, so I thought that instead of posting a recipe today I would simply share some of the photographs I’ve taken at different events. Continue reading →

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Posted in Appetizers, Cooking advice, Salads, Sauces & Condiments, Soups

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10 Holiday Gift Ideas

Posted on December 16, 2011 | 1 comment

Tuesday’s post about preserved lemons got me thinking about holiday gift ideas. Making presents for your friends and family members is a great way to share something of yourself and to give them something they’ll remember—much more so than a gift card or pre-made gift basket.

So, in no particular order, here are 10 ideas for holiday gifts from—or for—the kitchen:

1. If you have active friends who don’t always have time for breakfast, consider making them a batch of Energy Bars. To make it more festive, replace the walnuts with pecans, use cranberries instead of blueberries and add a 1-2 tablespoons of minced crystalized ginger. Wrap them in a gift bag or plastic container, and attach the recipe with a piece of ribbon. Continue reading →

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When Life Gives You Lemons …

Posted on December 13, 2011 | Leave a comment

Here’s a much better use for lemons than lemonade, especially at this time of year.

I recently came across an article in the September issue of Sunset that gave instructions for how to make your own preserved lemons. Continue reading →

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Tired of Turkey?

Posted on December 9, 2011 | Leave a comment

One of the first restaurants I visited in Portland, Oregon, when I was attending Western Culinary was Higgins.

There, I fell in love with Chilean sea bass–until I learned it was overfished; now I rarely eat it unless it is sustainably raised and harvested.

Here is a preparation for fish that is similar to how it was made at Higgins: simply seasoned, seared, and served over a bed of beans and vegetables. Continue reading →

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A November Wedding

Posted on December 6, 2011 | Leave a comment

I am not a pastry chef, but I occasionally make cakes for clients and friends for special occasions. When my friend Jessica–who I’ve known through rowing for the past 10 years–got married this November, that qualified as a special occasion.

Jessica and Simon were getting married in Hawaii, but they planned a reception for their friends and family in the Seattle area. For the party at Tulio, she wanted an elegant cake that served 75.

I suggested that Jessica choose a simple cake flavor (chocolate, vanilla or spice) and then select a more personal filling. Continue reading →

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Posted in Cooking advice, Desserts

Seasonal Green Salad

Posted on December 2, 2011 | Leave a comment

This is one of my favorite salads for this time of year. It features seasonal ingredients (pears and pomegranate seeds), as well as blue cheese, and it looks wonderfully festive in the bowl and on the plates. Continue reading →

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